Joint Statement Edward Cardinal Egan and Bishop Nicholas Dimarzio

JOINT STATEMENT OF HIS EMINENCE, EDWARD CARDINAL EGAN, ARCHBISHOP OF NEW YORK AND HIS EXCELLENCY, THE MOST REVEREND NICHOLAS DIMARZIO, BISHOP OF BROOKLYN

Edward Cardinal Egan and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio released the following joint statement today.

"The decision of the City of New York to distribute 18 million free condoms to the public--and minors as well, according to news reports--is tragic and misguided. The only certain way to protect against sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV AIDS is abstinence before marriage and fidelity within marriage.

"Our political leaders fail to protect the moral tone of our community when they encourage inappropriate sexual activity by blanketing our neighborhoods with condoms. Although in their statements they give nod to the truth that only abstinence before marriage and fidelity within marriage are failsafe, by their actions they ignore that truth and degrade societal standards.

"The taxpayers' money that is being spent to distribute condoms and promote the attitude that 'anything goes' would be far better spent in fostering what is true and what is decent."